Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong

Hey everyone, it’s Alex and welcome to my blog post that I quickly put together before flying off to China.

A bit about me, I’m a 3rd year student studying a Bachelor of Business (marketing major) Bachelor of Science in Information Technology (business information systems management major) and I’m doing a semester of exchange at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University.

And finally tips for anyone reading this who is
considering doing their exchange in Hong Kong

Let’s begin…

Having been to Hong
Kong before, one thing always stood out to me was its infrastructure – it’s
amazing!!! The towering skyscrapers will leave you in awe every time you take a
stroll in the city or catch a bus somewhere. Not only are the buildings awesome
but every night they’re lit, Vivid all year round! Catching public transport is
also a breeze, much better than Sydney (and cheaper). There’s no stressing
about missing your train because they come every 3 minutes. Besides the city,
Hong Kong also has many cultural experiences on offer which aren’t too far away.
I was particularly fond of the Big Buddha for its sacredness and stunning
scenery which could easily make one forget the city was only a short train ride
away. The Mid-Autumn Festival lantern display at Victoria Park was also a
highlight, showcasing Hong Kong’s Chinese culture. I could go on about the
natural landmarks as well but I’ll leave some things for you to discover
yourself.

Moving onto life at PolyU, my
experience so far has had its ups and downs, mostly ups. Positives, the campus
feels like an actual campus with all the buildings in one spot, it’s very close
to transportation, there’s plenty of accessible facilities (food) and plenty of
opportunities to meet new people. The only major challenge I had to face was
enrolment, heads up if you’re doing a combined degree, there might be some
complications, but it all worked out in the end with the help of both PolyU and
UTS staff. Some minor things that can take some getting used to might be the
small living space and being the best English speakers in class.

And finally some tips.

Before exchange: attend all the exchange information
sessions at UTS; communicate with the yellow team and UTS International; have
some backup subjects ready.

During exchange: get an Octopus card at the airport; stick to the right when walking; download the MTR and CityBus apps; don’t lock yourself in your room, there’s so many sights to see; be social; travel to some other countries; hit up Lan Kwai Fong; study hard (but not too hard); take lots of photos; and just make the most of this amazing city while you’re here!!